But can you get better players? A lot of those guys are on the street for a reason.

The dead money also stays with the team. It doesn't just disappear after one year. I'm pretty sure we carried Anthony Weaver's dead money for like 3 years. It probably has something to do with the time remaining on the contract when you cut them.

First - that figure is for 1 year absorption of the dead money. 2015 the cap would be clear of all of the cap hits from those players contracts. If they do June 1st cuts on the players they defer the dead money due in 2015 and beyond to 2015. That would actually clear even more cap space in 2014. Schaub as a June 1st cut would be a $11 million cap saving in 2014 with a $7.5 million cap hit in 2015 for the remaining dead money owed.

Second - I wouldn't personally cut JJo. Schaub and Reed would be gone. That's over $6 million savings in 2014. I think you could get a better, younger backup QB for well under $3 million a year (draft pick, vet for minimum...) and ANY safety would be worth more than Reed. Reed has done nothing and doesn't play ST. UDFA, draft pick, FA or whatever. Glover Quin's first year cost only $2 million.